TicketsDALLAS – For the second year in-a-row, the University of Cincinnati men's swimming and diving team earned a runner-up finish while the women's team took third at the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championships.
The men's team finished the AAC Championship with a final score of 1,089, being edged out by Southern Methodist University who took home the AAC Championship with a final score of 1,304.
The women's team finished third with a final score of 732.50 just barely missing the second place slot, taken by SMU with a final meet score of 753.50. The University of Houston took the AAC crown with a final score of 1,009.
Matea Sumajstorcic got to work early in the 1650m free touching the wall in 16:25.48, followed by Sydney St. Rose-Finear in second with a clocking of 16:35.48.
The men followed suit as Noah Smith paced the competition with a time of 15:15.57 in the 1650m free. Kevin Leibold finished runner-up to Smith, getting a hand to the wall in 15:31.34.
Blake Hanna added another gold to his collection this weekend breaking his own school record of 1:41.92 in the men's 200m back. The Bearcats swept the remaining podium spots with Hunter Gubeno and Conor Lynch placing second and third, respectively.
Michael Balcerak took home the final gold of the weekend in the men's 200m fly, out-touching the competition with a clocking of 1:46.66 earning his fourth gold of the weekend.
Balcerak also brought home additional hardware by winning the 2021 AAC Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer honor.
RECORDS DAYS
DAY ONE
Men's 200 Free Relay
2. Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, Murat Sagdullaev (1:19.98) School Record
Men's 400 Medley Relay
2. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Alberto Garcia (3:10.61) School Record
DAY TWO
Men's 200 Medley Relay
1. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (1:25.54) School Record, AAC Record, Pool Record
Men's 100 Back
1. Blake Hanna (46.32) School Record
DAY THREE
Men's 200 Back
1. Blake Hanna (1:41.92) School Record
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Dominic Polling, Alberto Garcia, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (2:55.11) School Record
FINALS SWIM
Women's 1650 Free
1.Matea Sumajstorcic (16:25.48)
2. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (16:35.07)
7. Katie Qualls (16:56.50)
12. Kennedy Grotjohn (17:45.37)
13. Katherine Connolly (18:14.13)
Men's 1650 Free
1. Noah Smith (15:15.57)
2. Kevin Leibold (15:31.34)
5. Riley Dafoe (16:06.97)
6. Bennett Vail (16:37.59)
Women's 200 Back
8. Jamie Kolar (2:02.29)
10. Jaclyn Klimczak (2:01.44)
11. Erin Shema (2:02.06)
12. Morgan Shinault (2:03.61)
Men's 200 Back
1. Blake Hanna (1:41.92) School Record, Personal Record
2. Hunter Gubeno (1:42.60)
3. Conor Lynch (1:45.60)
8. Spencer Sehlhorst (1:50.33)
Women's 100 Free
3. Maddie Exton (50.03)
7. Abby Johnston (50.72)
8. Jessica Davis (51.16)
11. Molly Chelovitz (51.45)
Men's 100 Free
6. Alberto Garcia (44.59)
8. Murat Sagdullaev (44.74)
10. Calvin Coetzee (45.19)
11. Kyle White (45.33)
13. Thomas Matthew (45.75)
Women's 200 Breast
2. Lindsey Sanders (2:14.97)
5. Logan Lawhorn (2:17.70)
8. Victoria Hunt (2:20.10)
13. Kennedy Grotjohn (2:19.73)
Men's 200 Breast
4. Dominic Polling (1:56.96)
6. Dalton Lillibridge (1:57.36)
8. Zach Baecker (2:00.07)
Women's 200 Fly
3. Katherine Connolly (2:00.04)
8. Katie Qualls (2:04.82)
10. Camryn Streid (2:03.24)
15. Morgan Shinault (2:07.98)
Men's 200 Fly
1. Michael Balcerak (1:46.66)
2. Mohamed Abdelbaky (1:49.02)
5. Jason Allen (1:50.65)
6. Toby Van Dyke (1:50.76)
7. Kevin Leibold (1:51.93)
Women's 400 Free Relay
3. Maddie Exton, Abby Johnston, Jessica Davis, Molly Chelovitz (3:21.97)
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Dominic Polling, Alberto Garcia, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (2:55.11)
DIVING RESULTS
Men's Platform Finals
5. Zane Freeman (240.55)
6. Luke Cheetham (239.70)
7. Gus Staubitz (215.55)
8. Tai Sims (205.15)
Women's Platform Finals
12. Audrey Capannari (199.90)
TEAM STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Houston (1009)
2. SMU (753.5)
3. Cincinnati (732.5)
4. Tulane (617)
MEN
1. SMU (1304)
2. Cincinnati (1089)
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)
The men's team finished the AAC Championship with a final score of 1,089, being edged out by Southern Methodist University who took home the AAC Championship with a final score of 1,304.
The women's team finished third with a final score of 732.50 just barely missing the second place slot, taken by SMU with a final meet score of 753.50. The University of Houston took the AAC crown with a final score of 1,009.
Matea Sumajstorcic got to work early in the 1650m free touching the wall in 16:25.48, followed by Sydney St. Rose-Finear in second with a clocking of 16:35.48.
The men followed suit as Noah Smith paced the competition with a time of 15:15.57 in the 1650m free. Kevin Leibold finished runner-up to Smith, getting a hand to the wall in 15:31.34.
Blake Hanna added another gold to his collection this weekend breaking his own school record of 1:41.92 in the men's 200m back. The Bearcats swept the remaining podium spots with Hunter Gubeno and Conor Lynch placing second and third, respectively.
Michael Balcerak took home the final gold of the weekend in the men's 200m fly, out-touching the competition with a clocking of 1:46.66 earning his fourth gold of the weekend.
Balcerak also brought home additional hardware by winning the 2021 AAC Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer honor.
RECORDS DAYS
DAY ONE
Men's 200 Free Relay
2. Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, Murat Sagdullaev (1:19.98) School Record
Men's 400 Medley Relay
2. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Alberto Garcia (3:10.61) School Record
DAY TWO
Men's 200 Medley Relay
1. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (1:25.54) School Record, AAC Record, Pool Record
Men's 100 Back
1. Blake Hanna (46.32) School Record
DAY THREE
Men's 200 Back
1. Blake Hanna (1:41.92) School Record
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Dominic Polling, Alberto Garcia, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (2:55.11) School Record
FINALS SWIM
Women's 1650 Free
1.Matea Sumajstorcic (16:25.48)
2. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (16:35.07)
7. Katie Qualls (16:56.50)
12. Kennedy Grotjohn (17:45.37)
13. Katherine Connolly (18:14.13)
Men's 1650 Free
1. Noah Smith (15:15.57)
2. Kevin Leibold (15:31.34)
5. Riley Dafoe (16:06.97)
6. Bennett Vail (16:37.59)
Women's 200 Back
8. Jamie Kolar (2:02.29)
10. Jaclyn Klimczak (2:01.44)
11. Erin Shema (2:02.06)
12. Morgan Shinault (2:03.61)
Men's 200 Back
1. Blake Hanna (1:41.92) School Record, Personal Record
2. Hunter Gubeno (1:42.60)
3. Conor Lynch (1:45.60)
8. Spencer Sehlhorst (1:50.33)
Women's 100 Free
3. Maddie Exton (50.03)
7. Abby Johnston (50.72)
8. Jessica Davis (51.16)
11. Molly Chelovitz (51.45)
Men's 100 Free
6. Alberto Garcia (44.59)
8. Murat Sagdullaev (44.74)
10. Calvin Coetzee (45.19)
11. Kyle White (45.33)
13. Thomas Matthew (45.75)
Women's 200 Breast
2. Lindsey Sanders (2:14.97)
5. Logan Lawhorn (2:17.70)
8. Victoria Hunt (2:20.10)
13. Kennedy Grotjohn (2:19.73)
Men's 200 Breast
4. Dominic Polling (1:56.96)
6. Dalton Lillibridge (1:57.36)
8. Zach Baecker (2:00.07)
Women's 200 Fly
3. Katherine Connolly (2:00.04)
8. Katie Qualls (2:04.82)
10. Camryn Streid (2:03.24)
15. Morgan Shinault (2:07.98)
Men's 200 Fly
1. Michael Balcerak (1:46.66)
2. Mohamed Abdelbaky (1:49.02)
5. Jason Allen (1:50.65)
6. Toby Van Dyke (1:50.76)
7. Kevin Leibold (1:51.93)
Women's 400 Free Relay
3. Maddie Exton, Abby Johnston, Jessica Davis, Molly Chelovitz (3:21.97)
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Dominic Polling, Alberto Garcia, Michael Balcerak, Hunter Gubeno (2:55.11)
DIVING RESULTS
Men's Platform Finals
5. Zane Freeman (240.55)
6. Luke Cheetham (239.70)
7. Gus Staubitz (215.55)
8. Tai Sims (205.15)
Women's Platform Finals
12. Audrey Capannari (199.90)
TEAM STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Houston (1009)
2. SMU (753.5)
3. Cincinnati (732.5)
4. Tulane (617)
MEN
1. SMU (1304)
2. Cincinnati (1089)
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)